Guinea, 1958: The day the 'no' shook the French empire

In 1958, General de Gaulle's France proposed that its African colonies remain within a "Community" with strictly defined powers. The referendum took place on September 28. Only one territory answered "no": Guinea.

A massive "no"

Sékou Touré, president of the Government Council of French Guinea, and his party called for a vote against it. The result was overwhelming: 95.2% of the votes were for "no," a score unmatched in the other African territories consulted. De Gaulle had, however, warned that independence was available to Guinea if it said no, and that the metropole would not stand in its way.

Independence was proclaimed on October 2, 1958, just four days after the vote. A phrase attributed to Sékou Touré has remained famous: "We prefer freedom in poverty to wealth in slavery." Some historians, however, invite us to nuance the legendary narrative that has developed around this period.

An independence with difficult aftermaths

The event had repercussions far beyond Guinea: the other French colonies in sub-Saharan Africa would gain independence in 1960. But the break with France was brutal. Sékou Touré would later lead the country until his death in 1984, in an increasingly authoritarian regime whose legacy remains highly debated.

Key takeaways

The Guinean "no" of 1958 paved the way for the African independences of 1960. It is this date, October 2, that Guineans celebrate every year as their Independence Day.